S&W is sending me a new front sight pin for one that is missing from my 27-2. I shouldn't have any problem installing the pin itself, but I was wondering about trying to flush grind the pin to the Patridge sight base. I'm not sure of the exact length of the replacement pin, but I'm sure that it will protrude out from both sides of the sight base. If I do decide to grind, I plan to mask off the barrel and sight base, and carefully grind down the pin's ends with a Dremel wheel- but probably not fully flush. I would sure hate to mess up that beautiful blued finish. Any suggestions? Or should I just leave it alone and let the pin ends protrude? Thanks.
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Installing new Front Sight Pin- Model 27-2
- Thread starter Hawg Rider
- Start date
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Why do you think the replacement pin will be too long? Also, factory pins are not flat on the ends - they are slightly rounded. If you install and then grind down the pin I don't think it will look right. If you do need to shorten the pin I suggest measuring the correct length, cutting with a dremel cut off wheel and then rounding the end with a file while turning the pin in a drill. Once you match the factory rounded end, then touch up blue before you install. This is likely the best way to get it to look right.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Hope this helps.
Steve
OP
The front sight pin is a little different than the other pins (barrel pins, etc.) that S&W installed, mainly in that it was ground flush to the sight base and the pin ends were not left exposed. In many cases, it is very difficult to even tell that there is a pin installed because the factory installed them, then ground them flush, and blued them with the rest of the revolver. I can live with a little protrusion...I'm just not sure how much will be left after the new pin is installed.
OP
Update on S&W Pin and Installation
Apparently S&W has changed the front sight pins from solid pins to roll pins. When I called S&W Customer Service, he mentioned that the p/n I pulled from the schematic had been changed to a new p/n...and the pin that they sent me was a roll pin. The new pin was very easy to install- I'll just have to see if it stays in place when shooting .357 mag. loads.
Apparently S&W has changed the front sight pins from solid pins to roll pins. When I called S&W Customer Service, he mentioned that the p/n I pulled from the schematic had been changed to a new p/n...and the pin that they sent me was a roll pin. The new pin was very easy to install- I'll just have to see if it stays in place when shooting .357 mag. loads.
BruceM
Member
The roll pin would be easier to replace but I have to tell you that I wound not want a roll pin on that gun.
Bruce
Bruce
Last edited:
OP
The roll pin definitely doesn't look as nice as a solid pin, and I'm not sure that it will stay in place. But...until I can get to a gun show where someone is selling solid sight pins, I guess that I'm stuck with this roll pin.
redhawk444
Member
Roll pins are designed to be a little oversize to the hole that they are inserted in....it should have needed tapping in to affect the installation.
If it did, then it will stay in place, probably better than a solid pin would. If it didn't, then it was the wrong pin, or the hole got opened up somehow.
If it did, then it will stay in place, probably better than a solid pin would. If it didn't, then it was the wrong pin, or the hole got opened up somehow.
